Where The Wild Thyme Blows, Op117

Oddly enough, the instrumental parts here were relatively simple and intuitive to write - almost improvisatory. The vocal line was all struggle and compromise. Even I still have my doubts about the feasibility of creating truly natural-sounding serial vocal lines; though I cling to the belief any dedicated and thorough composer ought to be able to forge that path - with enough effort.

The text is, of course, Oberon's instruction to Puck at the conclusion of Act II, Scene 1.

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lull’d in these flowers with dances and delight;
And there the snake throws her enamell’d skin,
Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in:
And with the juice of this I’ll streak her eyes,
And make her full of hateful fantasies.
Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove:
A sweet Athenian lady is in love
With a disdainful youth: anoint his eyes;
But do it when the next thing he espies
May be the lady: thou shalt know the man
By the Athenian garments he hath on.
Effect it with some care, that he may prove
More fond on her than she upon her love:
And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow.

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